Beauport welcomes Nouveau Cirque Mondial big top from Paris 

Danielle Burns

danielle@qctonline.com

A “European circus” in a red and white striped big top tent can be seen near the Promenades Beauport shopping mall, with large clown-decorated transport trucks taking the circus across North America for the first time ever. 

During the winter, the show plays in Paris in a 2,000-person venue, but for the first time overseas, they are in a cozy 600-seat chapiteau. The QCT spoke with French producer, artistic director and entrepreneur Maxime Kerboua before the evening shows that run from July 9-26 about what makes Nouveau Cirque Mondial interesting. 

Kerboua said, “The clown is a really important figure in the world of traditional circus.” During the show, the Italian clown, Denny Caroli, acts as ringmaster. Caroli pulled people up from the audience to participate, playfully teasing and involving them in the show, giving them musical instruments as he conducted a concert to the delight of their children and family. Popcorn was also used by the clown as a prop to engage the spectators – throwing pieces into audience members’ mouths. At the end of this number, he clapped enthusiastically – showering the front row with the remaining contents of the bag. 

The producer said, “It’s not a super-production like in Vegas; it’s a traditional circus where you are always close to the artist. You see them sweat.” He went on, “It’s not like in an arena or stadium when you see [the artists] as insects on the stage. That [proximity] is the signature of our show.” 

The cast includes talented athletes from all over Europe and the world, including one Olympic gymnast, Randy José Leru Bell, who represented Cuba at the Rio 2016 Games. For one reason or another, they have all come together under the tent to perform. As a small cast, they have to be jack-of-all-trades and sell popcorn and whirly lights during intermission. There is a lot of song and dance – often by beautiful young women who change into provocative costumes for every act, but it isn’t just a smoke show. The contortionists, for example, are mind-blowing examples of the incredible capabilities of the human body. Parisian Alix Duclos Conchard stands out with her high-flying multidisciplinary acts and an award-winning hula hoop number, while dressed to kill. 

The tour was supposed to start in New York City this year, but Kerboua says it was impossible to get entry visas on time and the company was forced to cancel. “The Trump administration closed everything. That’s the story of America today; they close the door.”  

The North American tour is scheduled until mid-October in Quebec, and has already hit many places around Canada, including in Ontario and Alberta. Next, they are travelling to perform in Longueuil, Saint-Jérôme, Joliette, Lasalle and Sherbrooke. However, the cast and acts outlined on the website cirquemondial.com are not all up to date, giving the impression that circus folk are transient.